RUPERT — Idaho’s first and only natural gas “well” is expanding as a Rupert area farmer increases his dairy herd. The project has the attention of federal officials.

Intrepid Technology and Resources Inc., is expanding its methane digester at Whitesides Dairy northeast of Rupert.

Rep. Mike Simpson visited the facility Wednesday and Sen. Mike Crapo was there Thursday.

The first company to produce pipeline-quality methane from cow manure, ITR, in partnership with Utah State University, is expanding its operation. Instead of utilizing about 30 percent of the dairy’s waste, it will produce natural gas from 100 percent of the manure from 6,500 cows.

All of the gas will be put into a pipeline and sold to Intermountain Gas Company, according to ITR Vice President Brad Frazee.

The expansion will include an additional eight digester tanks and will produce enough gas to provide gas energy to 5,000 homes, Frazee said.

“We think this could be a very viable addition to natural gas availability in America,” said ITR President Jacob Dustin.

“Each dairy in Idaho could become a source for alternative energy.”

Plant manager Wayne Tolman explained how the manure is pumped into the large digester tanks and reheated to nearly the same temperature as a cow’s body heat. At that temperature naturally occurring bacteria starts the chemical action and methane bubbles rise to the top of the tanks.

“It’s like a root beer float, with lots of foam right at the top,” Frazee quipped, as Simpson turned up his nose at the suggestion.

Steve Whitesides told Simpson that because his cows are on a delicately balanced diet, there is little problem with changes in the chemistry of the manure.

“When there are any changes, they are so insignificant that it causes little or no changes here,” Whitesides said, pointing at the digester tanks.

Simpson learned that the cost of the facility, which has been privately funded, runs about $1,000 per cow.

“It’s about the same as a plant that produces electricity would cost,” Dustin said.

“It will take less than 10 years to regain our capital investment.”

He said any dairy with 2,000 or more cows could produce enough gas to make such a project viable.

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